Fishing Reports – Trout Flies Direct

Beating the Heat: Summer Fly Fishing for Grayling and Bass

Posted by Ian Whitcombe
Posted on August 13, 2025August 13, 2025

The current extreme heat continues to break records, with March 2024 being the hottest since at least 1884. Such conditions stress cold‑water species like trout and pike, forcing anglers to rethink their targets. When freshwater remains your focus, choose cooler venues. Higher-altitude rivers on Exmoor and Dartmoor can stay several degrees cooler. Alternatively, target chub,

Six Ideas to Make You Love fly Fishing Again

Posted by Ian Whitcombe
Posted on August 12, 2025August 12, 2025

Have you started to lose your love of fly fishing? You don’t need to chase exotic destinations to rekindle your passion for fly fishing. Start by falling in love with your local water. Urban streams, park lakes and nearby canals often hold surprising sport, reduce travel costs and shrink your carbon footprint. Secondly, become a

From Gentry to Grassroots: The Changing Landscape of British Fly Fishing

Posted by Ian Whitcombe
Posted on August 8, 2025August 8, 2025

Fly fishing arrived in Britain centuries ago and, by the early 1900s, was woven into the fabric of rural life. Illustrations of the era show well-dressed men in wool caps and jackets with elbow patches carrying wicker creels and rods. Early adopters were often members of the gentry; their estates included stretches of river managed

Mindful Casting in London: Learning to Fly Fish Along the Thames

Posted by Ian Whitcombe
Posted on August 6, 2025August 6, 2025

On a chilly December morning, a novice angler steps onto the muddy banks of the River Thames near Syon Park, armed with a 9‑foot rod and a desire for calm. To the casual observer, the scene may seem anachronistic—fly fishing in the shadow of London’s Heathrow flight path?—but the city’s waterways offer surprisingly good training grounds. Under